Belonging

As I was driving home, lights piercing the darkness, I cried out to God, "I just want to belong!"

Later, as I was getting ready for bed, I was reading through the Psalms. I was struck by these verses:

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca (weeping), they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools."

So I am a pilgrim. I am on a journey, which means I'm not meant to stay in one place for very long. What if its not so much about finding a place to belong, so I can settle down and be comfortable?

And I wondered how the Valley of (weeping) could be made into a place of springs? My NIV text note said: The joyful expectations of the pilgrims transform the difficult ways into places of refreshment.

So it's about who I know and that He is a good Father. It even says about Jesus that he endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him. Even in the "weeping". Even in the feeling of "not belonging", What it really boils down to is knowing I belong to Him and living out of that. And I remembered Him saying to me that very morning, "You are mine!"

Peace

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

I realized recently that I have been living in anxiety, worry and fear. I worry about what to wear. I worry about when to eat, how much to eat and what kinds of things to eat. I worry about my health. I worry about what flowers to plant and whether my mowing will get done this summer. God gave me a good full-time job but then I worry about not having enough energy to work a 45-hour week. I worry about being single and having no one to take care of me, but, on the other hand, I worry about getting married and not having what it takes to care for my family. And if things are looking good today, I worry about what might happen tomorrow. The list could go on...and on...

I try very hard to figure things out. I try to plan ahead so nothing takes me by surprise.

God has been showing me that He wants me to live in peace. Because I know Him, I can rest, even when I don't understand, even when nothing makes sense.

During the night this reference came to my mind: Deuteronomy 20:1. In the morning I looked it up and this is what it says:

"When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them. because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you."

There may be lots of things the enemy is throwing at me that look huge and overwhelming but God is with me. He's got this!!

So today...I will walk in peace. As you know Him may you also walk in that peace.